Turbine type fluid torque converter and fluid coupling



Sept. 16, 1947. J. .mmDAsL-:KV

`TUHBINE TYPE FLUID TORQUE CONVRTER AND FLUID coUPLING Filed Dec. 23,1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR Ese/ BY M, m 5&4,

` ATToR/vya Sept. 16, 1947. 'J. JANpAsK 2,427,458

TURBINE TYPE FLUID TORQUECONVERTER AND FLUID COUPLNG Filed Deo. 23, 19393 Sheets-Sheet 2 g/a I ya M, um he?? -ATT0R 14's.

'Sept 16, 1947.. J. JANDAsEK TURBINE TYPE FLUID TORQUE CONVERTER ANDFLUID COUPLING Filedv Dec. 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M 4 ,fm 4 r T w wwwL M r/ f AMM, YM Ww ,M @L f y ,w -(5 m .o l 5a-#20.. i i L,

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Patented Sept. 16, 1947V OFFICE TURBINE TYPE FLUID 'ronQUE CONVERTER ANDFLUID coUPLrNG Joseph Jandasek, Detroit, Mich., assignor to BendixAviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of DelawareApplication December 23, 1939, Serial No. 310,785

'I'his invention relates to transmissions and more particularly totransmissions of the turbo torque converter type.

An object of this invention is to provide a turbo transmission having areverse mechanism whereby the power of the engine may be employed as abraking force to stop the vehicle.

Another object of the. invention is to provide a turbo transmissionhaving a movable element which may be manually actuated to reverse thedirection of power transmitted by the turbo unit to stop the vehicle. Afurther object ls to provide an improved turbo transmission havingreverse mechanism which may be manually actuated to exert a brakingforce to stop the vehicle followed by an energization of the vehiclebrakes.y

Yet another object resides in the provision of a. manually shiftableimpeller or casing member to render the operation of the turbo unit moreexible and uniform.

A further object is to provide an improved,

turbo transmission having a rotatable housing wherein means extendedinto the housing are provided to vary the angular relation of-the guidevanes.

2 In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a turbotransmission embodying one desirable form of the present inventionwherein an axially shiftable impeller is employed;

Figure 2 is a part sectional view illustrating a modied form of theinvention wherein an axially shiftable casing is employed to provide areverse mechanism; v

Figure 3 is a part sectional view illustrating a turbo transmissionhaving a rotatable housing;

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating a. turbo transmission having amultiple stage guide wheel;

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating one desirable ,form ofantireaction turbine vane:

Figure 6 is a sectionalv view illustrating lmeans for converting a turbotransmission vfrom a torque converter into a turbo clutch;

Figures 7 and 8 are schematic views illustrating the main gates in twooperative positions A lstill further object is to provide means forconverting a turbo transmission into a turbo clutch at high speed whenlight loads are being transmitted vwherein the guide wheel is free torotate, and into a torque converter when heavy loads are beingtransmitted wherein the guide wheel is locked against rotation.

Another object is to provide a turbo Ytransmission having a multiplestage guide wheel provided y with angularly movable gates-which may bemanually actuated to close or open the iiuid circuitv at spaced pointsintermediate a iiuid energizing impeller and an energy absorbingturbine;

Yet a still further object of the invention is to provide means wherebythe main gates of a guide wheel may be held stationary when thetransmission is operated as a torque converter and may rotate with thedriven shaft when the transmission is being operated as a, turbo clutch,

means being vprovided to vary the angular relation of the main gatesdependent on the variable conditions of operation.

Other objects and advantages of this inven tion will be apparent fromthe following detailed description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only, andnot intended to denne the scope of the invention, reference being hadfor that purpose to the subjOined claims.

being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be observed that a driving shaft l0 isextended into a housing I2. The shaft I0 maybe driven by any suitablesource -of power, such for-example as the engine` of-a vehicle. Animpeller I4' in the housing -I2 has a collar I6 supporting the impelleron the driving shaft I0 for rotation therewithand for relative axialmovement. The impeller is adapted to energize a circulating fluid withinthe housing I2.

The energy transmitting circuit of this transmission comprises a channelI8 in the impeller I4 intermediate a web 20 and a shroud 22 forenergizing the circulating iiuid. A guide wheel has rst and secondstages within the housing I2. The guide wheel has inner and outerchannels 24 and 26 constituting the iirst'stage, and inner and outerchannels 28 and 30 constituting the second stage. The rst stage isadapted ond stages of the guide wheel and is fixed to the driven.shaft36 by a web 42. The turbine channels 38 and 40 are interposed between ashroud 44 and the web 42.

The impeller |4 is provided with semi-free vanes 46 rotatably mounted onshafts 48. The angular movement of the semi-free vanes 46 is limited byspaced stops 50on opposite sides of the vanes 46. These semi-free vanesoperate in a manner generally similar to that disclosed in Figure 1 ofmy co-pending application Serial No. 475,278, now Patent No. 2,186,025,granted January' 9, 1940. A plurality of spaced main impeller blades 52are positioned in the impeller channel I8 and are movable angularlyunder the innuence of-the force of the fluid passing over them, and theangular movement of these blades is limited by spaced stop members- 54on opposite sides of the blades.

A plurality of spaced semi-free vanes 56 and 58 are in the inner andouter channels 24 and 26 of the rst stage of the guide wheel. Thesemi-free vanes 56 and 58 are mounted on shafts 60 carried by thehousing I2 and the member 32. The semi-free vanes 56 and 58 are free tomove angularly between the limits defined byv spaced stop 64 and 66respectively on opposite sides of the semi-free vanes.

Main gates or vanes 68 and 10 are fixed .to shafts 12 in the inner andouter channels 24 and 26 of the first stage of the guide wheel. Theshafts 12 are journaled lin the shroud 32 and the housing. l2 and extendbeyond the housing,

and pinions 14 on the shafts mesh with a ring,

gear 16 carried by the housing |2. One of the shafts 12 has an extendedportion 18, and a lever 80 fixed to the extended portion is connected toa spring 82 for yieldingly urging the main gates 68 and 10 in onedirection.

The second stage of the guide wheel is provided with a plurality ofspaced semi-free vanes 84 and 86 in the inner. and outer channels 28 and30 respectively. These semi-free vanes are mounted on shafts 88journaled in the shroud 32 and the web 34, and stops 90 and 92 areprovided to limit the angular movement ofthe semifree vanes 84 and 86;

A plurality of spaced main gates or vanes 94 and 96 inthe inner andouter channels 28 vand 30 respectively of the second stage of the guidewheel deflect the circulating fluid in a desired manner before enteringthe impeller channel I8. The main gates 94 and 96 are fixed to spacedshafts 98 pivotally mounted in the web 34'and extend beyond the web.Each of the shafts 98 has thereon a pinion |00 which meshes with a ringgear |02, and a spring |04 connecting the ring gear |02 and the shroud34 yieldingly` urges the main gates 94 and 96 towards'oneextremeposition.

A plurality. of spaced semi-free vanes |06 and |08 in the.` vchannels 38and 40 are pivotallyK 'mounted on .shafts 99 supported in the shroud 44and theweb 42. Angular movement of these the shroud 32 and' necessary toapply the semi-free vanes |06 and |08 is limited by spaced stops ||2 and'||4, and positioned adjacent the discharge side of the semi-free vanes|06 and |08 is a plurality of spaced main turbine vanes ||6and 91.

The gates and vanes carried by the impeller, guide Wheel and turbinemembers operate in a substantially similar manner to the correspondingelements disclosed in myl said Patent No. 2,186,025.

Means are` provided to shift the impeller I4n relative to the housing |2in order to align the impeller channel I8 with the outer guide wheelchannels 26 and 30 so as to transmit Ipower from the driving shaft |0 tothe driven shaft 36 in the same direction, or to shift the impellerchannel |8 into alignment with the inner guide wheel channels 214 and 28to'transmit power from the driving shaft I0 to the driven shaft 36 inthe reverse direction.

One desirable form of impeller shifting means comprises a leverpivotallymounted at |22 to a bracket on the housing |2 and provided withan extension 93 which vmay be received within an actuating collar 9|carried by the collar I6 to shift the impeller. The lever 95 may beprovided witha manually actuated pedal |28. Motion transmitting means|30 carried by the lever 95 may be provided to selectively engage aslotted member |32 operably connected by means of a rod |34 to thebrakes of a vehicle.

In the operation of this device whenV it is desired to stop the vehiclethe lever 95 may be actuated to shift the impeller channel I8 intoalignment with the inner guide wheel channels 24 and 28 to transmitpower to the driven shaft 36 in the reverse direction. When the lever 95approaches the limit of movement permitted by the slotted member |32 themotion transmitting means |30 engages the member |32 to transmitmovement to the brake lever |34 to apply the vehicle brakes. It will beobserved that by the use of this mechanism the inertia energy of thevehicle may be dissipated by reversing the turbo transmission unit. Ifan unusually quick stop is desired the engine may be accelerated totransmit power through the turbo transmission unit to stop the vehicle.In this manner it is unbrakes to any considerable extent.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention similar in manyrespects to that illustrated in Figure l.` Corresponding parts havetherefore been given corresponding numerals with the addition of 100.VIn this embodiment of the invention it will be observed that a housingis axially shlftable relative to the driving shaft ||0 and the drivenshaft |36 to place either the inner or outer circuits |24 or |26 of theiirst stage of the guide wheel into communication with one of thecircuits |38 or |40 of the turbine. The inner and outer circuits |38 and|40 of the turbine communicate with a single turbine passage ||3 whichcommunicates with a single passage ||5 of the second stage of the guidewheel. The passageway ||5 of the second stage of the guide wheelcommunicates with the single passageway ||8 of an impeller ||1 carriedby an impeller web member ||9 fixed to the driving, shaft ||0 in anysuitable manner as by means of a key |2I.

Inoperation, when the housing Ill is inthe position illustrated, fluidcirculates through the impeller passage H8, the inner iirst stage guidewheel channel |24, the inner turbine channel |38, the single turbinechannel ||3 and the single Y I I rotates.

second stage guide wheel channel H6 to transmit power from the drivingshaft ||0 to the driven shaft |36 to drive the `driven shaft in the samedirectionin which the driving shaft 1 When the lever '|95 is moved tothe dotted line position, they housing Il is shifted l so that the outerrst stage guide' wheel channel |26 communicates with the impellerchannel H8 and with the outer turbine channel |40 to transmit power fromthe driving shaft H0 to lthe driven shaft |36 in reverse direction. Itwill be o bserved that a core member |23 serves to obstruct either theinner or outer channel |24 or |26 of the first stage guide wheel.

Substantially the same type of vanes, blades and gates are employed inconnection with the impeller, first and second stage guide wheel andturbine as discussed in connection with Figure 1. i Figure 3 illustratesanother embodiment of the invention similar in certain respects to theembodiment illustrated in Figure 1. Corresponding parts have thereforebeen identified with corresponding reference numerals with the additionof 200. In this embodiment it Will be .observed that a rotatable housing225 is iixed to the driving shaft 2|0 for rotation therewith. The casing225 has therein an impeller channel 2|8 interposed between a shroud 222and an impeller web 220. Fluid is discharged from the impeller channel2|8 in the direction indicated by the arrow and passes t'o a turbinepassage 221 between a shroud 244 and a web 242. The web 242 may be fixedto a driven shaft 236 in any suitable manner, as by a key 229.

Interposed between the exit from the turbine channel 23| and theentrance to the impeller channel 2 8 is a guide Wheel channel 233between the shroud 232 and a web 235. The web 235 may bemounted on thedrivenshaft 236 so asto be freely rotatable thereon.

The impeller, turbine and guide wheels are provided with semi-freevanes, blades and gates similar in manyrespects to the correspondingparts described in connection with Figure l. It will be observed thatthe pinions 214 'mesh with a ring gear 231 supported on the web of theguide wheel 235 and are free to move angularly relative thereto througha predetermined range of travel. The

web 235 has a sleeve 239 fitted on the driven shaft f 236 and the sleevehas a ratchet 24| at its outer end. A pawl 243 cooperates with theratchet 24| to provide for rotation of the sleeve 239 and the guideWheel in one direction only. The pawl 243 is mounted on a frame member245 having an extension 241 supporting a manually operable lever 295.

A sleeve 249 has spaced flanges 25| for the reception of the fork 224 ofa hand lever 295. The lever may be actuated to shift the sleeve 249 onthe sleeve 239 and a key 253 on the sleeve 239 is received by a groove255 in sleeve 249 to inhibit rotation of the sleeve 249. The sleeve 249is pro- 26| in such a manner that the gates are free to move angularlyunder the influence of the pressure exerted by the circulating fluid.When it is desired to manually vary the angular relation of the gates,the lever 295 may be moved to slide-- upon the projection 259 receivedby the helical groove 251 of the member 249 rotates the ring gear 231relative to the guide wheel 235 so as to rotate the pinions 214 therebyvarying the angular relation of the gates 210.

If desired the device illustrated in Figure 3 may be operated as a turboclutch. To so operate the device, the one-way brake mechanism 243 shouldbe omitted. The key 253 between the sleeve 239 and the sleeve 249inhibits relative rotation but allows the sleeve 249 to move axially.This axial movement of the sleeve 249 then moves the ring gear 231 toactuate the pinions 214 to move the main gates 210 angularly to vcloseor open the fluid circuit. When this device is being operated as a turboclutch, the gates 210 are employed for the purpose of opening or closingthe iluid circuit and not to change or vary the torque. ratio developedby the device plished by reason of the fact that the sleeve 249 maybeactuated manually by the lever 295.

It will of course be understood that the gates 210 may be carired by thedriven shaft 236 and be freely rotatable thereon. These gates may ifdesiredbecarried by either the impeller or turbine units.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the invention which is similar incertain respects to that of Figure 1. Corresponding parts have thereforebeen given corresponding numerals with the addition of 300. In thisembodiment it will be observed that a housing 365 is rotatably mountedon the driving and driven shafts 3|0 and 336. A one-way brake 361 isinterposed between the housing 365 and a xed frame member 369 so that`the housing 365 mayv rotate when the transmission is operating as aturbo clutch and is held stationary by the one-way brake 361 when thetransmission is operating as a torque converter.

It will be observed that a multi-stage guide wheel having vanes 310 and396 fixed to a shaft certain operating conditions. The shafts 31| areprovided with pinions 313 meshing with a ring gear 315 to position allof the vanes 310 and 396 in the same angular relation. One of the shafts31| is extended in length and carries a pinion 311 meshing with a rack319 which may be actuated by an arm 38| slidably mounted on a portion ofthe housing 365.

Attention is called to the fact that in this embodiment of the inventionthe turbine blades 349 are iixed to shafts 383 plvotally mounted in theturbine shroud member 344 and extending through the turbine Web member342. The shafts 383 are provided with pinions 395 meshing with a ringgear 381. The ring gear 381 is free to ymove a small distance angularlyrelative to the 383 are shaped to provide a diverging channel when thevaries are positioned as' illustrated in full lines as when thetransmission is operating at heavy loads or at low speeds. Whenthetransmission is operating at light load the yielding means associatedwith the ring gear 381 moves This result is accomthe vanes 340 angularlyto the dotted line position whereupon a converging passageway isprovided to decrease pressure whereupon the fluid will be discharged athigher velocity. l

Referring now to Figure 6, it will be observed A 14, 1930, now PatentNo. 2,186,025, and applicathat a driving shaft 400 has thereon animpeller web 402 which cooperates with an impeller shroud 404 to providean impeller channel having therein main flexible blades 408. Energy isimparted to a circulating fluid in the impeller channel 406 andtransmitted to a turbine channel 4|0`interposed between a turbine shroud4I2 and a turbine web 4I4. Semi-free vanes 4I6 and main blades 418 arepositioned in the turbine channel 410. A guide wheel channel 420interposed between a guide wheel shroud 422 and a guide wheel web 424formed by a housing 426 is provided with semi-free vanes 428 and maingates 430. An auxiliary turbine 432 interposed between an auxiliaryturbine web 434 and shroud 436 is provided to absorb energy from thecirculating fluid and transmit it through a one-way clutch 438 to thedriving shaft 400. The gates, blades and vanes are provided with stopsas discussed in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1to limit their angular movement between predetermined limits.

The main gates 430 in the guide wheel channel are mounted on shafts 440and are movable between spaced stops 442 and 444 as more clearlyillustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The shafts 440 are provided with pinions446 in mesh with a double ring gear 448 which also meshes with gears450. Each of the gears 450 is carried on a shaft 452 which extendsax-ially of the driving and driven shafts, and a pinion 454 on eachshaft 452 meshes with a gear 456 supported by a stub shaft 458 on thehousing 426. The gears 456 mesh with a pinion 460 having spaced ratchetgears 462 and 464.

A pawl 466 carried by a stationary member 468 cooperates with theratchet gear 462 to hold'the housing 426 from rotation whereupon thegates 430 engage the stop members 444 as illustrated in Figure 7, andthe fluid reaction flexes the gates. 430 in the manner illustrated inFigure 7 when the transmission is operating as a torque converter.

When the transmission is operating as a turbo clutch, the fluid exerts aforce on the gates 430 urging the guide wheel 420 and the housing 426 torotate in the same direction as the driven shaft 472. A pawl 410 carriedby the driven shaft 412 cooperates with the ratchet gear 464 to transmitthis force to the driven shaft 412. During this phase of ,operation whenthe transmission is operating as a turbo clutch the gats 430 engage thestops 442 as illustrated in Figure 8 and the force transmitted by thecirculating fluid bends them in the direction illustrated in Figure 8.

Figures 9 and 10 illustratev one desirable form of semi-free vanes 480wherein the theoretical height of the vanes 482 is. more than the pitch484 of the vanes defined as the distance between the shafts 486 torectify the fluid flow beforeit is transmitted to the mainvanes 490. Thesemi-free vanes 480 are free to move between the limits defined byspaced stop members 492.

It is to be understood that the various features disclosed in thedifferent figures of this application may be combined with similarfeatures of other figures withoutV departing 'from the spirit of theinvention.

This is a continuation-impart of my c'o-pending application Serial No.475,278, filed August tion Serial No. 7,896, flled February 23, 1935,now Patent No. 2,205,794.

I claim:

1. In a turbo transmission having a fiui'd circuit, a driving shaft, animpeller fixed to the driving shaft, a driven shaft, a turbine fixed tothe driven shaft, a two-stage guide wheel interposed between theimpeller and turbine at two spaced points, a plurality of spacedangularly movablegates positioned in each of the guide wheel stages,means `including shafts associated with the gates tol vary the angularrelation of the gates, and manual means operably connected to saidshafts to actuate the gates toclose the uid circuit to isolate theimpeller from the turbine at two spaced points thereby rendering theturbo transmission inoperative.

2. In a turbo unit, a driving shaft, an impeller carried by the drivingshaft, a driven shaft, a

turbine carried by the driven shaft, a casing surrounding the impellerand turbine, a stationary member associated with the casing, a guidewheel carried by the casing having a plurality of stages interposedbetween the impeller` and turbine, a

plurality of angularly movable gates in each stage' Aof the guide wheel,manually operable means to move the gates of each stage to'close theguide wheel at. a plurality of spaced points to render the transmissioninoperative, and one-Way braking means between the casing and stationarymember to hold the guide wheel against rotation to operate the turbounit as a torque converter in one direction and to release the guidewheel to operate the unit as a turbo clutch in the opposite direction.

3. A turbo transmission comprising driving'and driven shafts, animpeller and a turbine connected to the driving and driven shafts, atwo-stage guide wheel cooperating with the impeller and the turbine toprovide a power transmitting uid circuit, said guide wheel havingoppositely arranged sections interposed respectively between theimpeller and theturbi'ne, a set of fluid deflecting vanes at theentrance and at the outlet of each section of the guide wheel, saidfiuid def-lecting vanes being controlled by fluid reaction in the powertransmitting fiuid circuit, means yieldingly restraining movement of oneset of the vanes on each section, and means operative at will torotatably adjust one set of vanes on each section.

, JOSEPH JANDASEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 975,795 Radcliffe Nov. 15, 19101,121,397 Radcliffey Dec. 15, 1914 1,122,302 Radcliffe Dec. 29, 19141,122,303 Radcliffe Dec. 29, 1914 1,199,360 Fttinger Sept. 26, 19161,199,361 Fttinger Sept. 26, 1916 1,298,990 Mason Apr. 1, 1919 1,667,565Radcliffe Apr.f24, 1928 1,672,232 Saives June 5, 1928 1,688,968 HuwilerOct. 23, 1.928 1,696,307 James Dec, 25, 1928 1,760,397 Coats May 27,1930 1,760,480 Coats May 27, 1930 (Other references on following page)Number Number Number Name Date Dodge Feb. 20, 1940 Patterson Sept. 19,1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1925 Great Britain 1929Germany 1921 Germany 1927 Germany 1928 Sweden A1930

